Convergence insufficiency--a major review

Convergence insufficiency--a major review

Convergence insufficiency is a common binocular vision disorder affecting approximately 5% of the
population in the United States. It is often associated with a host of symptoms that occur when doing
near work, such as reading and computer viewing. This article reviews the existing literature on
convergence insufficiency including etiology, diagnosis, sensorimotor findings, and management.

Comment: This is an excellent review article on a major vision health problem. Read the article by clickinc the title above. DM

Brain Fitness Program Improves Memory

.....The team studied 59 participants with an average age of 84, recruited from local retirement communities in Southern California. The volunteers were split into two groups: the first group used a brain fitness program for an average of 73.5 (20 minute) sessions across a six-month period while a second group played it less than 45 times during the same period. Researchers found that the first group demonstrated significantly higher improvement in memory and language skills, compared to the second group......

Preschoolers Who Pay Attention More Likely To Get Degrees Later On

....To the authors' surprise, math and reading achievement did not coincide with college completion. Children whose parents rated them higher on attention span and perseverance at age 4 had a 50 percent higher rate of receiving a bachelor's degree by age 25.....

Small Adjustments Can Make a Big Difference on the Visual Demands Students Face in the Classroom

American Optometric Association offers tips to help students make the most out of high-tech classrooms

  -- How many hours a day do children spend on computers or other electronic devices? New data from the American Optometric Association's (AOA) 2012 American Eye-Q® consumer survey indicates 60 percent of parents estimate their children spend up to four hours per day at home or in school looking at a computer or digital device screen. With smartboards, tablets and other digital tools being incorporated into daily school curriculums, the technology has students spending much of their time learning and socializing in front of a screen.

"While these high-tech classrooms can greatly enhance learning, they can pose a number of challenges to the visual system," said Geoffrey Goodfellow, O.D., AOA spokesperson and attending optometrist in the Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Service at the Illinois College of Optometry. "Many of these issues can be solved with frequent breaks, proper set up of computer screens and yearly, comprehensive eye exams by a doctor of optometry.".....

 

College of Optometrists in Vision Development Annual Meeting Speakers

College of Optometrists in Vision Development 

Annual Meeting Speakers 

October 16-20, 2012

Omni Fort Worth Hotel

Fort Worth, Texas

Contact: www.covd.org    

Dr. Betsy Quinlan
Reversing Amblyopia by Enhancing Plasticity in the Visual Cortex

Dr. Alva Noe
Action in Perception

Dr. Jack Richman
Visual Attention & Automaticity: The Missing Pieces in Vision Assessment and Therapy

Dr. Paul Harris
The Understanding and Clinical Use of Eye Movement Recording Devices in Optometric

Practice Dr. Lea Hyvärinen
Early Detection, Assessment and Intervention of Problems in Visual Development: Optometrists' and rehabilitation ophthalmologists' role in the transdisciplinary team work

Drs. Leonard Press and Jim Thimons
Masquerade Syndrome: Binocular Vision vs. Pathology Vision

Therapist Education
Diana Ludlam, COVT and Jennifer Mullen, COVT VT 101

Additional Meeting Highlights

Practice Management Session The Millionaire OD Next Door: Financial Literacy
Panel Moderator: Patrick Pirotte, OD, FCOVD

Clinical Discussion Forum
Drs. Kellye Knueppel and Brenda Montecalvo

New One-Day Practice Management Course
Dr. Wanda Vaughn

Register Online Or Download the Registration Form

Dyslexia May Be Caused by Signal Processing Problem in Brain

...The learning disability dyslexia is caused by a problem with signal processing involving speech recognition in the brain, according to a new study...Although they do not lack intelligence, people with dyslexia have trouble reading, understanding and explaining individual words or entire texts. Researchers in Germany found this is because a part of their brain's thalamus -- called the "medial geniculate body" -- does not process speech sounds correctly...

 Comments:Remember there are few individuals with dyslexia....and many with reading problems. Reading problems are often affected by functional vision abnormalities....For more on dyslexia see Wajuihian SO. Neurobiology of developmental dyslexia Part 1: Areview of evidence from autopsy and structural neuro-imaging studiesOptom Vis Dev 2012;43(3):121-131.

Dr. Maino named expert consultant to Greatist

 Comments: I had an opportunity to work with the writers of the Greatist website (see the article:Computer Eye Strain Explained (and How to Avoid It)) and they must of liked what they heard because they asked me to be an expert consultant for them! If you want the latest in healthcare...that is checked, rechecked and verified...the Greatist website is where you should go. They make sure what they say is backed by science and then has it reviewed by at least 2 experts in the area. You do not often see this dedication to reliable health care information. DM

More Delays in Brain Growth Seen With ADHD

.....Researchers have uncovered more evidence that certain types of delays in brain development seem to be related to a heightened risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)...A new study appearing in the current issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry found that development of the cortical surface -- which covers the region of the brain known as the cerebral cortex -- was slower in children with ADHD.

 Comments: Click on title for more information; DM.

 

Optometric Vision Therapy Works! (30 sec PSA)

Optometric Vision Therapy Works! Go to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development to learn more.

 

If you live in Chicago, Lyons Family Eye Care provides diagnostic and therapeutic services for those with learning related vision problems. Both Dr. Stephanie Lyons and Dr. Dominick Maino are members of COVD. Dr. Maino is also a Fellow of COVD and the American Academy of Optometry as well.

Autism Stem-Cell Therapy to Be Tested in Kids in Trials

.....Thirty children with autism, ages 2 to 7, will be divided in two groups, with one getting the stem cell injection and the other receiving a placebo shot. After six months, the groups will switch. Patients will be monitored for improvement in language as well as irritability and other autism rating scales......

Comments: Click on the title above for more information. DM 

Medical Breakthrough: 3D vision syndrome

Medical Breakthrough: 3D vision syndrome KGET NBC 17 Bakersfield
Comments: This was done a while ago...but has an interesting story behind it. I was in Florida for a meeting when the AOA asked if I would do this interview. Not being in Chicago made it a bit of a challenge. A limo was sent to pick me up at my hotel and dropped me off at a television station several towns away from where I was staying. The TV folks had me sit on a sound stage, wired me up and then directed me to look in a specific direction. I chose to look at a first aid kit on a distant wall. I couldn't see the individual who interviewed me, but I could hear her. The rest is history! Of course they edited out all really awesome parts that would have definitely confirmed how intelligent, witty and charming I am. (You'll have to take my word on that!!) (;-}> DM

Computer Eye Strain Explained (and How to Avoid It)

 

Computer Eye Strain Explained (and How to Avoid It)

Ever spent more than two consecutive hours looking at a computer screen? Us too. Computers can make us more productive, but the bad news is they could also lead to something called Computer Vision Syndrome. More recognizable as that tired, strained feeling those eyes get after a day in front of a screen, the condition packs a punch: 64 to 90 percent of office workers suffer from CVS. Read on to learn how to spot the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome — and what to do about them. ....

Comments: I had an opportunity to work with the author of this article (along with my colleague Dr. Len Press) as a "reviewer of the facts." I must have done a pretty good job because now I have become an official consultant to this health-centric web based informational resource. Few Internet health information sites take the necessary time to make sure all the information they dispense is correct. Greatist.com is one site that appears to do just that. They not only asked me to review this article, but then asked me to suggest a colleague (Dr. Press) to verify what I told them! It looks like this is one of those internet sights that tells it true! Click on the title above to read the whole article. DM